Understanding eligibility for child support

On behalf of Wilson-Goodman Law Group, PLLC posted in Child Support on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Children in Arizona have the right to receive financial support from both of their parents. As such, if their parents are divorced or do not share a home, then one of those parents may be required to provide the child with child support. There are some basic requirements that must be met for child support to be awarded, but readers should talk to their family law attorneys about their specific child support cases.

First, if there is a question of paternity between a child and man, a paternity test may need to be completed to demonstrate the man's responsibility toward the child. Oftentimes when parents are married or residing as a couple both of their names appear on the child's birth certificate; if a child's father is not established, then paternity may first need to be addressed before child support can be awarded.

Second, if the child only lives with one parent, then support may be requested of the non-custodial parent. If the child shares time between the homes of their parents, then child support may only be awarded if one parent earns substantially more money than the other. Many factors will work into a court's assessment of the need for child support in a particular family law case.

Receiving an award of child support can be an incredible help for a custodial parent to provide their child with what they need. However, getting child support and being eligible for it requires a parent to work through the legal system. Doing so can be complicated and many parents work with family law professionals to help them along the way.

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